Archive for October, 2010

Edgewood Permaculture Gathering Teaches Harmonious Living And Land Management

by John Weckerle

Christian Meuli explains his rainwater catchment and cistern systems.

Dr. Christian Meuli explains his rainwater catchment and cistern systems.

Saturday brought a unique event to Edgewood: the 15th annual Permaculture Gathering at La Resolana.  Variously translated as “sun’s glare,” “sunspot,” “sun catcher,” and “sunny place,” La Resolana is a 15-acre parcel that is home to Edgewood’s Dr. Christian Meuli, physician and long-time permaculture expert.  In addition to lecturing both locally and elsewhere for years, he has been putting permaculture to the test at La Resolana for more than three decades.  With luck, we can hope he will still be doing so three decades hence.

Permaculture is a means of land management that incorporates and utilizes the natural characteristics of a given location, taking into account site hydrology, topography, soils, climate, regional ecology, and a myriad other factors that contribute to the “identity” of the place in question.  From water harvesting to the understanding and development of living systems, the tenets and techniques that are essential to permaculture practice can be used for beautification, harmonious living, and even agricultural productivity.

The Permaculture Gathering was set to begin at noon, and by 12:03 many of us were already parking on the road on which Dr. Meuli’s residence is located.  A short stroll down the driveway led to a large, metal barn, at the door of which visitors were offered a »» Edgewood Permaculture Gathering Teaches Harmonious Living And Land Management

Moving New Mexico Forward

(Editor’s Note: We found this timely given the letter by Vicki Farrar in this week’s edition of The Independent.  We also refer our readers to our previous article on the subject.)

by U.S. Senator Tom Udall

As September comes to a close and autumn settles in, I’ve been looking back at the amazing things I’ve seen New Mexicans achieve this summer.

Over the last two months, I traveled around our state to see how people across New Mexico are using Recovery grants and other federal funding opportunities to create new jobs, boost our economy, strengthen our infrastructure and nurture innovation.

We’ve been hit hard by this recession, but our state’s resilience is showing in our small businesses and our entrepreneurs.

From Las Cruces to Taos, from Acoma to Santa Fe, I saw New Mexicans laying the groundwork for a prosperous future through projects big and small. Stops along my trip included:

»» Moving New Mexico Forward

Look, It’s…

by John Weckerle

Those of us who were out back throwing things this morning just after 6 a.m. and who also happened to look up (this second criterion did not appear to apply to Senior Astronomical Correspondent Wilson) were treated to a spectacular pass by the International Space Station (ISS), as it traveled from southwest to northeast.  Visible for about 4 1/2 minutes, the ISS was the brightest object in the sky, other than the Moon.  The ISS will be flying over us several times over the next few days, as will a variety of other man-made objects.  To find out more about what’s going on over your head, go to Heavens-Above.com and input your town/city!